Power lift implement



'June 1, 19.37- F. D. JONES 2,082,247

PQWER LIFT IMPLEMENT /NVENTOR Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POWER LIFT IMPLEMENT Application March 27, 1935, Serial No. 13,234

17 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and more particularly is concerned with implements that are supported on a tractor and in which the power for raising and lowering certain operating parts of the implement is derived from the tractor motor.

As is well known, farm tractors are so constructed that various agricultural implements, such as cultivators, corn harvesters, sweep rakes, etc., may be mounted on and supported either entirely or in part by the tractor, and wherein the power for raising certain of the implement parts to a raised or transport position or for lowering them to a working position has been derived from the tractor motor. Implements of this type are usually provided with a lifting rock shaft or equivalent device which is operatively connected with the implement parts whereby rocking ofthe shaft acts to raise and to lower such parts, the rock shaft being rocked by power derived from the tractor motor through the instrumentality of either a mechanical half revolution type of power lift clutch or by hydraulic lift mechanism. Where a mechanical half revolution type of power lift clutch is employed, the lifting rock shaft is usually locked both in its raised and in its lowered positions, but where certain types of hydraulic lift mechanisms such as that illustrated and described in the application of Elmer McCormick, Milford D. Stewart and Wayne H. Worthington, iiled October 24, 1934, Serial No. 749,706, are employed, the lifting rock shaft is locked only in its raised position. One of the advantages of the hydraulic type of power lift mechanism over the mechanical type of power lift clutch is that when the hydraulic mechanism is operated to drop the implement parts to working position the uid in such mechanism acts to cushion the descent, which is not the case with the mechanical power lift clutch.

In the operation of certain types of agricultural implements, however, not only is it necessary to hold the working tools or equivalent devices in a raised position, but it is also desirable to hold them in a lowered position. An example of such an implement is a sweep rake wherein it is desirable to hold the rake in a lowered position to force the rake teeth to follow closely along the ground surface as well as to hold the rake in a raised position for transport.

It will be apparent from the above, therefore, that where tractors adapted for supporting agricultural implements of various types are equipped with a. lift mechanism of the type which is not positively locked in both its raised and lowered position, it is necessary` to provide special lifting connections for those implements in which it is necessary to hold the implement in either its raised or its lowered position, and it is the principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide improved lifting connections between the lift mechanism of the tractor and the lifting rock shaft of the implement whereby the implement may be held in either its raised or its lowered position independently of the lift mechanism.

Other objects and advantageous features will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of my invention, which has been illustrated in connection with a tractor supported sweep rake although it is to be understood that the invention may be applied to any othertype of implement for which it may 'be adapted.

In the drawings: Y

Figure l is a top plan View of a machine embodying the principles of the present invention and in which the tractor is indicated in dotted lines while the sweep rake attachment is indicated in full lines;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view on an enlarged scale of the lifting connections at one side of the tractor, the parts being shown in the positions they assume when the rake head is in. a lowered position:

Figure 3 is a side elevational View of the lifting connections, as viewed from the right in Figure Figure 4 is a transverse vertical cross sectional viewtaken substantially on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 2, but with the parts in the positions they assume when the rake head is raised; and

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line l--B of Figure 4 with the rake head in lowered position.

Referring now to the drawings, the sweep rake illustrated `in Figure 1 is indicated as an entirety by the reference numeral 1. The rake is similar in construction to that shown and described in my prior Patent No. 1,967,774, granted to me on July 24, 1934, and therefore only such parts thereof as are necessary for an understanding of the present invention will be referred to herein.

I'he sweep rake 1 includes two longitudinally extending frame or pushing members l, 5, disposed on opposite sides of the tractor with 'their rear ends connected as hereinafter described to the rear axle housing 9 of the tractor T, and a rake I0 which comprises a series of forwardly extending raker bars or teeth II flxedly connected to and forming a part of the rake head IIJ. The rake head I3, in connection with the rake frame 1, constitutes an implement frame which is supported, at least in part, by laterally spaced dirigible wheels I2 and cooperating axle means I2a. The dirlgible supporting wheels I2 are connected with the front steering wheels I3 of the tractor T in substantially the same way as that illustrated in myabove mentioned patent to which reference may be had if desired.

The rear ends of each of the two fra'me or pushing members 8 of the rake are supported on the tractor in substantially the same way, and, therefore, the mounting of but one of said members will be described herein. A suitable journal casting I4 is fixed to the rear end of the member 8 by means of bolts I5 (see Figures 1, 3, and 5). 'Ihis journal casting I4 is removably connected with and journaled upon a transversely extending pivot pin or bolt I6 supported by means of a bracket I1 secured to the rear axle housing 9 of the tractor by means of bolts I9 (see Figures 3 and 5). perforations in the lower portion of the bracket I1 and the lower portion of a strap 20 which, at its upper end, is bolted or otherwise secured to the bracket I1, as shown at 2I in Figures 3 and 5, and has its lower end spaced from the lower end of the bracket I1, the journal casting I4 being journaled on the pivot pin between said bracket and said strap. The bracket I1 is braced by means of a suitable brace bar or member 22 having one end bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the lower end of the bracket I1 and having its other end secured to the draw bar 23 of the tractor by a bolt 24.

The rake head I0 is adapted to be rocked or tilted about an axis passing through the wheels I2 to raise and lower the front ends of the teeth II, and to this end a pair of longitudinally extending bars 25 are provided. At their forward ends the bars are connected to the rake head frame at points above the wheels I2, as clearly shown in my prior patent mentioned above, and at their rear ends the bars 25 are pivotally connected to arms 25 carried by a lifting rock shaft 21, by the rocking of which the rake head may be raised and lowered. This rock shaft is operated by power derived from the hydraulic lift mechanism 30 on the tractor by means of two sets of connections, one set being disposed on each of the tractor asshown in Figure l. Also, 'as shown in Figure l, the rock shaft 21 extends 'transversely across the implement 1 and is rockably supported at its opposite ends in bearings 3| which are carried by a transverse frame member 32 secured at its opposite ends in any suitable manner to the push members 8.

As the two sets of connections between the hydraulic lift mechanism and the lifting rock shaft 21 are identical inconstruction, but one 'of such sets of connections will be described herein. Each of said connections includes an arm 35 fixed in any suitable manner to the rock shaft 21 and extendingupwardly therefrom adjacent the outer end thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. The forward end of a longitudi- This pivot pin extends through alined' nally extending link 35 is pivotally connected to the upper end of the rock shaft arm 35 as shown at 31, the rear end of said link being pivotally connected, as at 35, with the outer end of an arm 33 .preferably but not necessarily formed integral with and extending outwardly -from a hub member in the form of a suitable casting 4I journaled on a pin or best shown in Figures 4 and 6.

The pin or shaft 42 is supported at its inner end in a perforation in a bracket 43 xedly connected to the brace bar 22 by means of bolts 44 and extending upwardly therefrom as shown in Figures 4 and 6. Adjacent its outer end the shaft 42 extends through a perforation in one flange 46 of a vertically positioned angle iron bracket or frame member 41 suitably fixed to the rear axle housing 9 by means of the bolts I9, which extend through perforations in the other fiange 48 of said bracket. The shaft 42 is xed in position in the bracket 41 by means of a bolt 49 which extends through a perforation in the flange 48 of the bracket and through a perforation in the shaft 42, as best shown in Figures 3 and 4.

A brace bar 52 is bolted at its rear end to the lower end of the flange 48 of the bracket 41, as shown at 53, and has its forward end bolted or otherwise secured in any suitable manner (not shown) to the lower end of the strap 2li which supports the outer end of the pin I6. The brace bar 52 thus acts to hold the lower ends of the bracket 41 and strap 2|J in proper spaced relation relative to each other at all times. Formed integral with and extending outwardly from the hub member 4I is an arm 54, the outer end of which is pivotally connected at 55 to the lower end of a link 5E, the upper end of which is pivotally connected at 51 with the outer end of an arm 58 xedly connected at its inner end, as shown at 59, to the outer end of the lifting rock shaft 6I of the hydraulic power lift mechanism. The member 4I, in eiect, serves as a pivotally mounted connecting bell crank having arm portions 39 and 54.

In Figure 5 the lifting connections are shown in the positions they occupy when the rake head is in its lifted or transport position, and when the power lift is tripped to permit the rake head to drop to raking position the pa'rts assume the positions approximately like those shown in Figure 3. In order to hold the rake head in such lowered raking position, a coiled torsion spring 65 is provided, said spring being supported upon a cylindrical casting or sleeve member 66 mounted upon the pin 42 between the hub member 4I and the flange 46 of the angle bracket 41. The end of the casting 66 adjacent the flange 46 is provided With a radially extending fiange 61 formed integral therewith and having two transversely extending slots or recesses 68 and 69 in its outer surface extending at right angles to each other, each of said recesses being adapted to receive a bolt 1I which passes through a perforation provided in the shaft 42.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5 the bolt 1I is positioned in the recess 69 in the flange. The purpose of this bolt and slot construction will be described later. The outer end 12 of the spring 65 shaft 42, as

is looped around a lug 13 formed integral with n y amasar bly secured to the arm I3 as shown in Figure 6. 'I'he rake head III is lowered by` tripping the power lift which opens a valve and permits the arms 53 to swing upwardly from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure-6 under the eil'ect of the weight of the rake head, transmitted to the arms $9 by the links 25 and 36, and the springs 65 which urge the arms 39 toward the position shown in Figures 3 and 6. The angular relations between the several parts are such that when the rake teeth are in a position normally engaging the ground the lifting link 36 and theassociated arm 39 at each side ofthe machine are in a substantially dead center relationship. 'Ihe springs 65, which bias the parts for movement to this position, can then exert sufllcient force against any rearward thrusts imposed thereon by the links 36 to hold the lifting connections in this position and the rake teeth down against the ground.

The springs 65 are arranged to aid in moving theparts toward and holding them in the position shown in Figures 3 and 6 after the power lift has been actuated to move the rake head and associated parts to loweredA position. Hence, in the illustrated arrangement it is not necessary to rely upon the power lift mechanism itself to hold the rake headl down, since a rearward thrust on the links 36 cannot exert any great amount of turning eifect upon the arms 39 and hub member 4|, by virtue of the aforesaid dead center relationship. However, the springs should be arranged so as not to exert too small a force, or the parts will not reach the position shown in Figures 3 and 6, and likewise the springs 65 should not exert too much force or the parts will be swung well beyond their dead center relationship with the result that the rake teeth may not be held down against the ground. In order, therefore, to provide l'or adjusting the tension of the spring 65 at each side of the machine, slots 68 and 68 are formed in the outer surface of the flange 61 of the spring supporting cylindrical casting 66, in either of which slots the bolt 1| may be positioned. Thus the tension of each spring B5 may be changed by removing the bolt Il and rotating the casting 66 on the pin 42 through 90 degrees, or multiples thereof, in either direction until the desired tension in the spring has been secured, after which the bolt 'Il may be replaced either in the recess B8 or in the 66 against further rotation on the pin 42.

recess 69, as the case may be, to lock the casting This adjusting means also provides for taking care of 'fluctuations that may occur in the strength of the springs in the manufacture thereof and for vcompensating for weakening of the springs and nection with a sweep rake, the invention is also i applicable to any other type of tractor implement having one or more operating members adapted to be raised and lowered, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will also be apparent that the principles of the present invention are equally applicable to machines havinga manual lift instead of a power lift, or to the locking type of power lift. In the latter case the power lift mechanism would be relieved of the duty of holding the implement parts in a given position.

What I claim iszy l. An agricultural machine comprising parts adapted to be moved into either of two positions, means for moving said parts from one position to another, link means cooperating therewith and adapted to be brought into a dead center relationship when said parts have been moved to one of its positions, whereby said link means serves to hold said parts in said one position, and spring means tending to move said linkv means into said dead center relationship.

2. In an agricultural machine comprising a tractor having a power lift and an implement connected with the tractor and comprising parts adapted to be moved into either of two positions,

the combination oi' means connected with said power lift for moving said parts from one position to another including link means through which the force moving said parts istransmitted and which are adapted to be brought into a dead center relationship when said power lift has acted therethrough to move said parts to one position, whereby said link means serves to hold said parts in said one position independently of said power lift. l

3. In an agricultural machine comprising a tractor having a power lift and an implement connected with the tractor and comprising parts adapted to be moved into either of two pitiohs, the combination of longitudinally extending link means operatively connected with said parts,

means serving as a bell crank having one arm portion pivotally connected with said link means so that, in one position of said parts, said bell crank portion and said link means move into substantially dead center relationship, and means operatively connecting the other arm portion of said bell crank with said power lift.

4. In an agricultural machine comprising a tractor having a power lift, an implement connected with the tractor and comprising parts adapted to be moved into either of two positions, the combination of a pair of 'generally longitudinally extending links operatively connected to move said parts, rocking means carried by the tractor and including a pair of arms operatively connected with said links, said links being adapted to move into dead center relationship with said arms in one position of said parts, and means operatively connecting said power lift with said rocking means.

5. An implement including operating members adapted to be moved into either of two positions, comprising the combination of a tractor having a power lift mechanism, and means connecting said members with said power lift mechanism f' position of said members, said connecting means including means for locking said members only in their lowered position.

7. An implement including operating members adapted to be moved into either a raised or a lowered position, comprising the combination of a tractor having a hydraulic lift mechanism, and means connecting said members withsaid hydraulic lift mechanism whereby said members are raised and lowered by actuation of said mechanism, said mechanism being locked only in the raised position of said members.. said connecting means including a spring for forcing said members into a locked position when they are lowered.

8. A rake including a rake head adapted to be moved into either a raised or a lowered position, comprising the combination of a tractor having a hydraulic lift mechanism, means connecting said rake head with said hydraulic lift mechanism whereby said rake head is raised and lowered by actuation of said mechanism, said mechanism being locked only in one position of said rake head, said connecting means including means for locking said rake head in its other position.

9. A rake including a rake head adopted to be moved into either a raised or a lowered position, comprising the combination of a tractor having a hydraulic lift mechanism, and means connecting said rake head with said hydraulic lift mechanism whereby said rake head is raised and lowered by actuation of said mechanism, said mechanism being locked only in the raised position of said rake head andv said connecting means including a link, a pivoted member, and an arm formed integral with said member and adapted to be moved into a substantially dead center relation with said link to lock said rake head in its lowered position when moved to such position.

l0. A rake including a rake head adapted to be moved into either a raised or a lowered position, comprising the combination of a tractor having a hydraulic lift mechanism, means connecting said rake head with said hydraulic lift mechanism whereby said rake head is raised and lowered by actuation of said mechanism, 'said mechanism being locked only in the raised position of said rake head and said connecting means including a link pivotally connected at one end with said rake head, a pivoted member, and

an arm integral with said member pivotally connected with the other end of said link and adapted to be moved into a substantially dead center relation with said link to lock said rake head in its lowered position when moved to such position, and la spring operable to force said arm and said link into such dead center relation, l

l1. A rake including a rake head adapted to be moved into either a raised or a lowered position, comprising the combination of a tractor having a hydraulic lift mechanism whereby head, a pivoted hub member, and an arm integral with said hub member pivotally connected with the other end of vsaid link and adapted to be moved into a substantially dead center relation with said link to lock said rake head in its lowered position when moved to such position, a spring operable to force said arm and said link into such dead center relation, and means for changing the tension of said spring.

12. A rake including a frame and a rake head supported on said frame and adapted to be raised and lowered, comprising the combination of a tractor 'having a hydraulic lift mechanism, a rock shaft .journaled on the rake frame and connected with said rake head, and means connecting said hydraulic lift mechanism with Said rock shaft for rocking said shaft to raise and lower said rake 4head, said hydraulic lift mechanism being locked in one position to hold said rock shaft against rocking movement in one position of said rake head, said .connecting means including means for locking said rock shaft against rocking movement in the other position of said rake head.

13. A rake including a frame and a rake head supported on said frame and adapted to be raised andlowered, comprising the combination of a tractor having a hydraulic lift mechanism, a rock shaft journaled on the rake frame and connected with said rake head, means connecting said hydraulic lift mechanism with said rock shaft for rocking said shaft to raise and lower saidrake head, said hydraulic lift mechanism being locked in one position to hold said rock shaft against rocking movement in one position of said rake head, said connecting means including means for locking said rock shaft against movement in the other position of said rake head, said latter means including a hub member pivotally mounted on a xed axis, an arm integral with said hub member, and a link pivotally connected at one end with said arm and at its other end with an arm on said rock shaft, said link being moved into a dead center relation with the arm on said hub member.

14. A rake including a rake head adapted to be moved into either a raised or a lowered position, comprising the combination of a tractor having a hydraulic lift mechanism, means connecting said rake head with said hydraulic lift mechanism whereby said rake head is raised and lowered by actuation oi' saidmechanism. said mechanism being locked only in the raised position of said rake head, saidv connecting means including a link pivotally connected at one end with vsaid rake head, a xedly mounted pivot shaft, a hub member journaled -on said shaft, and an arm ilxed to said hub member pivotally connected to the other end of said link and adapted to be moved into a substantially dead vjusting the tension of said spring, said adjust- 'ing means being operable to lock. said sleeve against rotation on said pivot shaft whereby said spring will hold said arm and said link in a dead center relation.

15. A rake including a rake head adapted to be moved into either a raised or a lowered position, comprising the combination of a tractor having a hydraulic lift mechanism, means connecting said rake head with said hydraulic lift mechanism whereby said rake head is raised and lowered by actuation of said mechanism,`

saldmechanismbeinglockedonlyintheraised position of said rake head, said connecting means including a link pivotally connected at one end with said rake head, a iixedly mounted pivot shaft, a hub member ioumaled on said shaft, position, said arm and link moving into dead 5 and an arm xed to said hub member pivotally center relation when said power lift is moved connected to .the other end of said link and into its freely movable position to lower the adapted to be moved into a substantially dead implement part, whereby said arm and link, center relation with said link to lock said rake acting as a toggle, vhold the implement pmt in head in its lowered position when moved to its lowered position. p' 10 such position, a sleeve member iournaled on 17. The combination with a tractor having a said pivot shaft adjacent said hub member, a power lift and includes an operating part movcoiled spring carried by said sleeve member, able from one position to another and locked one end of said spring being ilxed to said sleeve against movement in one position and freely member and having its other end xed to the movable in the other, of animplement having l5 arm on the hub member, means for adjusting a part to be raised and lowered. an arm conthe tension of said spring comprising a flange nected with the power liit part, a link pivotally at one end oi' said sleeve, transversely extendconnected with said arm and said implement ing grooves in said flange, and a boltv adapted part, said power lift part being connected with to be positioned in either of said grooves and said arms so as to exert a pull on said link to 20 extending through a perforation in said pivot raise said implement as said power lift is moved shaft. l into its locked position, whereby said power lift 16. The combination with a tractor having a holds said implement part in raised position, power lii't that includes an operating partmovand spring means acting against said arm for able from one position to another and locked swinging the same into substantially dead cen- 25 against movement in one position and freely ter relation with respect to said link, so as to movable in the other, 4ot an implement having hold said implement part in lowered position, a part rto be raised and lowered, an arm conwhenever the power lift is actuated to move said nected with the power lift part, a. link pivotally power lift part into its freely movable pomtion. connected with said arm and said implement 3o part, said power litt part being connected with FRANK D JONES CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,082,247'.V June 1, 19321 FRANK D. J ONES..

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printedspeoiiication of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page l, second column, line 2, for "position" read positions; page 2, first column, line 6, after "rake" insertV head; page 4, first column, line 2'?, claim 9, for "adopted" read adapted; page 5, second column, .line l2. claim 17, for "and" read that; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of September, AA. D. 1937.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) -Acting Commissioner of Patents.

said arm so as to exert a pull on said'link to raise said implement as said power lift is moved into its locked position, whereby said power lift holds said implement part in raised saldmbeinglockedonlyintheraised position of said rake head, said connecting means including a link pivotally connected at one end with said rake head, a iixedly mounted pivot shaft, a hub member ioumaled on said shaft, position, said arm and link moving into dead 5 and an arm xed to said hub member pivotally center relation when said power lift is moved connected to .the other end of said link and into its freely movable position to lower the adapted to be moved into a substantially dead implement part, whereby said arm and link, center relation with said link to lock said rake acting as a toggle, vhold the implement pmt in head in its lowered position when moved to its lowered position. p' 10 such position, a sleeve member iournaled on 17. The combination with a tractor having a said pivot shaft adjacent said hub member, a power lift and includes an operating part movcoiled spring carried by said sleeve member, able from one position to another and locked one end of said spring being ilxed to said sleeve against movement in one position and freely member and having its other end xed to the movable in the other, of animplement having l5 arm on the hub member, means for adjusting a part to be raised and lowered. an arm conthe tension of said spring comprising a flange nected with the power liit part, a link pivotally at one end oi' said sleeve, transversely extendconnected with said arm and said implement ing grooves in said flange, and a boltv adapted part, said power lift part being connected with to be positioned in either of said grooves and said arms so as to exert a pull on said link to 20 extending through a perforation in said pivot raise said implement as said power lift is moved shaft. l into its locked position, whereby said power lift 16. The combination with a tractor having a holds said implement part in raised position, power lii't that includes an operating partmovand spring means acting against said arm for able from one position to another and locked swinging the same into substantially dead cen- 25 against movement in one position and freely ter relation with respect to said link, so as to movable in the other, 4ot an implement having hold said implement part in lowered position, a part rto be raised and lowered, an arm conwhenever the power lift is actuated to move said nected with the power lift part, a. link pivotally power lift part into its freely movable pomtion. connected with said arm and said implement 3o part, said power litt part being connected with FRANK D JONES CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,082,247'.V June 1, 19321 FRANK D. J ONES..

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printedspeoiiication of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page l, second column, line 2, for "position" read positions; page 2, first column, line 6, after "rake" insertV head; page 4, first column, line 2'?, claim 9, for "adopted" read adapted; page 5, second column, .line l2. claim 17, for "and" read that; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of September, AA. D. 1937.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) -Acting Commissioner of Patents.

said arm so as to exert a pull on said'link to raise said implement as said power lift is moved into its locked position, whereby said power lift holds said implement part in raised 

